WHEELED & TRACKED ROBOTS

Wheeled robots are mobile robots that use wheels or track wheels for enhanced traction and stability on uneven or soft terrains. These robots are typically designed for efficient movement across various terrains, ranging from smooth, flat surfaces to more challenging environments, such as rough terrain, debris-covered areas, or off-road conditions. The use of wheels allows for quick and stable navigation, making these robots suitable for tasks such as delivery, exploration, and service applications. The number and type of wheels, including standard or tracked, are determined by the robot's design and intended purpose.

Wheeled robots can be categorized based on the number and type of wheels they use, as well as their specific design and functionality. Here are the main types:

• Two-Wheeled Robots: These robots typically use two wheels for movement and often rely on a gyroscopic system or a third stabilizing mechanism to balance. They are agile and can easily navigate tight spaces.
• Three-Wheeled Robots: These robots use a tricycle-like configuration, with one wheel in the front and two in the back or vice versa. This setup provides better stability than two-wheeled robots while maintaining good maneuverability.
• Four-Wheeled Robots: These are the most common type, providing excellent stability and balance. The four wheels allow for straightforward movement and control, making them ideal for a wide range of applications, from industrial automation to outdoor exploration.
• Tracked Robots: Tracked or track-wheeled robots use continuous tracks instead of traditional wheels. This design gives them enhanced traction and the ability to navigate rough or uneven terrains, such as rubble, sand, or snow. They are commonly used in search & rescue and exploration tasks.
• Omni-Wheeled Robots: Omni-wheeled robots feature specialized wheels that allow them to move in any direction without needing to turn. This provides exceptional maneuverability, making them ideal for use in environments where precise positioning is required, such as robotics competitions or warehouse material handling.
• Multi-Wheeled Robots: These robots use more than four wheels to distribute weight and provide greater stability, particularly on uneven surfaces. Multi-wheeled robots are often used in heavy-duty applications where stability and load-bearing are critical, such as in construction or agricultural robotics.

The difference between mobile robots designed for smooth, flat surfaces and those intended for rough terrain and challenging conditions primarily lies in their design, functionality, and application areas. Here's a breakdown from an application point of view:

Mobile Robots for Smooth Flat Surfaces:

• Warehousing and Logistics: Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and mobile robots move goods around warehouses, handle inventory, and transport items efficiently.
• Service Robots: Indoor robots in environments like hospitals, malls, or offices perform tasks such as delivery, transport, cleaning, guiding attendees, or customer service.
• Domestic Robots: Robots designed for home use perform tasks like vacuuming, mopping, and lawn mowing, navigating the smooth, flat surfaces typical of household environments.
• Manufacturing: Robots are used for assembly lines, material handling, and quality control within factories where the environment is controlled.

Mobile Robots for Rough Terrain and Challenging Conditions:

• Search and Rescue: Robots navigate disaster sites, rubble, and collapsed buildings to locate and assist survivors.
• Disaster Response: Robots assess damage, deliver supplies, and assist with clean-up efforts in disaster-stricken areas, operating in unstable environments.
• Agriculture and Forestry: Robots assist in tasks such as planting, harvesting, logging, and monitoring crops or forest health, navigating through uneven terrain and dense vegetation.
• Construction: Robots transport materials, assist with building tasks, and conduct inspections on rough, ungraded terrain at construction sites.
• Exploration: Robots explore extreme environments, such as extraterrestrial landscapes (e.g., Mars rovers) or underwater, where conditions are unpredictable and harsh.